It's not the trial surgery... but I did ask my mom if she would go to the consultation with me on the 30th. She said she thought she might be able to do that. I told her I thought we could be home before noon so not much of her day would be interupted.

She also mentioned that if I could put off surgery until November that my father and she would gladly take me to whatever appointments necessary.

Sounds like my mother was thinking at least one step ahead of me and I didn't know it.

I'm still scared.... but I have copied a list of all of my doctors, with all of their addresses and phone numbers, with all of my current medications. I also have copied a list of all of my symptoms and how certain things make me feel.---live vibrations from thunder, music from a passing car, a lawnmower, etc...

If you guys/gals can think of anything else I need to remember to add to my list or take with me... please let me know. I really want to be prepared for this.


Abbie

From the looks of it, YOU are doing quite well in the preparations department. If you have commenced your list of questions regarding "what is all of this about anyway?" You are quite a step ahead. Also, if you ask the consultant whether you have been seen by the appropriate parties heretofore as learned by Tiki in her posts of late regarding her daughter, THAT would be a good one! No one would want to have you go through this only to have communication with the rep withheld because no pain management doctor had been seen as yet.

Thrilled your Mum was thinking ahead for you, funny how that happens sometimes, huh?
Prayin for ya,
Mark56

Dear Mark,

I am flying to Dublin at 7.30 on the morning of Oct 7th. My trial is scheduled at 11.30. I hope to get the flight back at 6.30. Two friends are coming with me. Luckily I have 6 first cousins in the Dublin area and they wll do the necessary transportation around Dublin. I could not face a train journey up and down as I could not sit for 2.5 hours each way. I hope I will manage the trip home o.k. Mark, do you have any advice for me in this regard? Unfortunately the flight service between Cork and Dublin ends on Oct 31st. The last time I travelled in June there were so few passangers on the flight that we had to be seated so as to have balanced weight at the front, middle and back of the plane.

I was a golf addict before chronic pain forced me to give it up. That was nearly 2.5 years ago. I still miss it dearly. It is my golf friends who have disappointed me the most. One day in January 2010 I needed a lift home from the hospital following radiofrequency lesioning. Most of my friends work and so could not help but when I asked my best golf buddy if she could collect me, she said that she could not obilige as she was playing golf. I knew then where her priorities lay. I could not and would not leave a friend in the lurch like that. I had to hire a taxi to get me home. Illness is a true test of friendship. True friends are there for you through thick and thin.

Through my pain I have met some wonderful friends. They are always there for me and help me out in many practical ways.

My uncle. Mam's brother, is gravely ill. At this stage we hope that the Lord will take him home soon. He has cancer of the Lymph Glands.

Best wishes,
Patricia

Patricia-

Even as I ponder the health difficulties with which your family deals pertinent to your Mam's brother, I know a great deal of comfort personally through just talking to God. This faith perspective has helped me through thick and thin and folks such as Rrae and PoohAC know I have had some good deal of thin times. Prayin that peace flow over your family in those final days with your uncle. This sort of thing I take very personally, a reason why Cleo and I drove quite a ways this past weekend so I could sing for the double funeral of a dear work associate and friend from years gone by and her husband who met their departure on an unfamiliar road in another state. It felt so good to give to her and her family.

Regarding what would I recommend for your flight..... well, I do remember being in Hawaii once when my flight was far less than comfortable, so before departure, we bought rubber foam donuts on which to sit for the long flight home. Not the best in comfort, but it got me from point A to point B.

Prayin your Trial, that all goes well, and that during the Trial, you remember BLAST- no bending, lifting, stretching, or twisting until they remove the leads. Now, regarding that penchant for golf, well...... you might want to take a look at KZLRogue and her posts, for after her permanent implant healed, she was in such good shape as to be allowed to golf again!! How about that?!?

Caring,
Mark56zz

Mark, I'm SO glad you mentioned her! I was racking my brain trying to remember her exact handle. Yes Patricia, her testimony is VERY encouraging! You should be able to get your love of golf back

Abbie, speaking of Q's to ask your Dr, I'd certainly bring up the topic of pain pump to see what he says. There are so many meds (or combinations) that can be customized for the pump. If he is like my Dr (and probably many others) he might say something like, "Well, if you did the pump, then I'd have to 'marry' you"...meaning, the commitment involved of refilling the pump, but I'd really like to know what he would say.
I just keep getting red flags regarding the stimulation in your case. If even a passing car playing music causes you discomfort, yikes.

Oh how I hope something will give you a break

Rae

I don't think that I updated y'all over here, but I ended up ill and wasn't able to get my SCS implant as planned, so it has been moved to 5 October.

I was very upset at first, but ultimately, the change in date allowed us to find a new church (something we'd been wanting to do for quite awhile now) as well as get plugged into a new community group. For that reason alone, it was well worth it. The prayer and personal support we'll realize from being part of the group just really cannot be underestimated.

Like Mark, I truly feel that my faith perspective has had a significant effect on my overall "survival" of the past two years.

Understood about the delay, but thrilled for you on a new faith community. Truly, they will be able to afford even more help with the prayers which will bear you up through the porcess! So much the better!
Caring,
Mark56

AMEN to that, Peppermintpatty! Me too!

Abbie, too bad we don't live in Ireland. They have a unit that works just like SCS only it doesn't have any stimulation. It's called Nevro. Not available in the US (yet)
I just keep thinking there HAS to be something for you that would potentially change your life. I continue to hang on to hope that something is right around the corner which will break wide open for these horrible chronic conditions.
There's just gotta be.

Just the way Sidney Poitier sang it..... AMEN, amen, amen!
Mark56

Hi All,

I believe strongly in the power of the Lord. It is said that God nevers gives us a cross to bear that we cannot carry. There have been times over the last 2.5 years when I have doubted this but these have been shortlived. I am very involved with my parish. I am Chairperson of the Liturgy Group in our Parish Assembly. I really enjoy the challenges that this role presents. In the parish the choir sings at 12 noon mass on Sunday. There rarely is music/song at remaining masses. One of our current aims/objectives is to expand music/song to other masses by inviting people with these talents to participate in the enrichment of our ligurgies. We are slowly making progress but we still have vacancies! Mark, can I add your name to the list???

My uncle is still with us. He is very peaceful and is recieving great care. When I returned from Mass last Sunday Mam had got a bad fall and she is not at all well. I know that she is deeply worried about me and the upcoming trial and its implications for her. Say a little prayer for us.

Patricia